This post was updated on 03/05/2021.
Florida first legalized medical cannabis in 2014 when the Legislature passed the Compassionate Use Act allowing patients suffering from cancer and epilepsy to access low-THC cannabis. This program grew in 2016 under the Right to Try Act which permitted full-strength cannabis to patients with a terminal illness.
On November 8, 2016 Florida voters passed Amendment 2 with a 71.3% majority (in every single county!), allowing for an expanded medical cannabis program, effective January 3, 2017. While operational, the program existed in a legal grey area until June when Governor Rick Scott signed Senate Bill 8A into law, removing the dreaded "90 day wait" and establishing operational guidelines to meet the requirements of Amendment 2.
Amendment 2 and the subsequent Senate Bill 8A expanded the list of eligible medical conditions, including "an all other debilitating...' category giving doctors discretion on certifying patients with conditions that aren't explicitly listed.
QUALIFYING CONDITIONS PER AMENDMENT 2
Cancer
Epilepsy
Glaucoma
HIV+
AIDS
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Crohn's disease
Parkinson's disease
Multiple sclerosis
Medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to those listed
Terminal illness
Chronic nonmalignant pain
WHAT ARE MEDICAL CONDITIONS OF THE SAME KIND OR CLASS?
This category allows doctors to certify patients who have symptoms or medical conditions that are both debilitating and similar in nature to the medical conditions that are explicitly named in the law.
What does it mean for a condition to be 'debilitating'?
For a physical or mental health condition to be debilitating it must interfere with or limit the patient's life activities. So what does this look like?
Does the patient miss work or other comittments due to symptoms? Does the condition interfere with their ability to sustain relationships, get around/drive/walk, perform manual tasks, concentrate, think, or communicate? Does the patient require medications or other treatments for their symptoms? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, it's likely the condition qualifies as debilitating.
What debilitating conditions qualify as being 'of the same kind or class as or comparable to' the named qualifying conditions?
In our practice we certify patients for medical cannabis treatment with a wide variety of health concerns. While it's impossible for us to provide you with a comprehensive list of conditions that may qualify, we can specify some of the most common qualifying classes and symptoms. If the condition you would like to treat with medical cannabis shares any of the below, it may likely qualify.
Debilitating conditions of the following classes:
Autoimmune
Gastrointestinal
Immunodeficiency
Neurological & neurodegnerative
Psychological
Terminal
Chronic (long lasting and/or recurring) & debilitating symptoms:
Anxiety
Chronic pain
Depression, irritability, and/or mood swings
Difficulty sleeping
Fatigue
Muscle spasms & stiffness
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other GI upset
Poor appetite
Sample 'other' conditions:
Anorexia
Arthritis
Bipolar
Cachexia
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Diabetes
Endometriosis/PMS
Fibromyalgia
Hepatitis C
IBS
Insomnia/sleep disorders
Lyme disease
Lupus
Migraines
OCD
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Sickle cell anemia
Ulcerative colitis
I THINK MY CONDITION QUALIFIES, WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT?
Get in contact with us!
The first step in becoming a legal medical cannabis patient is seeing a qualified physician for a certification exam. We are currently accepting patients in all of our locations - Land O' Lakes, Spring Hill , and Wesley Chapel (Pasco & Hernando counties).
You can also consult the Office of Medical Marijuana Use qualified physician list to find a doctor in your area.
HOW DO I REACH YOU?
The best way to reach us is by email (info@flmedcannabis.org) or by submitting the pre-qualifying survey online here. You can also reach us by phone at 352-616-9892 during normal business hours. If we don't answer it's because we are assisting other patients - please leave us a message with the best times to reach you and we'll definitely return your call.
If you're ready to schedule an appointment you can skip right to our online booking page! We'll ask you to list your condition(s) when scheduling, so if we have any concerns that you won't qualify we will be in contact before your appointment. But even so no worries - if at your appointment we find that you don't qualify there is no charge for the visit!
Post Written By: Kristina Risola, MA, CRC, NBC-HWC
